9 in 10 Online Graduates Say Their Degree Has Had a Positive ROI
Credit: Rockaa / iStock / Getty Images PlusAs unemployment climbs for traditional college graduates, many who grew up expecting smooth entry-level placement are finding it tougher than ever. Yet, more nontraditional, career-switching students — or “modern learners” — are charting a different path.
According to BestColleges’ 2025 Online Education Trends Report, online learners and grads report high learning satisfaction, job readiness, and return on investment (ROI) for their degrees. Of 1,000 current and prospective online learners and graduates surveyed:
- 90% of graduates say their online degree has had or will have a positive ROI.
- 99% of current students and 95% of graduates would recommend online education to others.
- 76% of all online students believe online education matches — or beats — on-campus learning.
It’s no surprise most grads believe their degree has already had a positive impact, as 2 in 3 (66%) report they secured job offers in their desired field after graduation.
Further, most online grads (69%) agree that their online education prepared them well for their first job. Even more grads (74%) report that their program prepared them for real, work-related challenges.
66%
Say they secured job offers in their desired field after graduation
69%
Say their online education prepared them well for their first job
74%
Say their programs prepared them for real, work-related challenges
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Online Degrees Help Launch Careers
Graduates are more than just satisfied. They say their programs meet real-world benchmarks that matter when job hunting or applying for a license.
- 61% say their online programs prepared them to meet the requirements of state licensure in their desired fields.
- 72% say their online programs meet the requirements for industry certification in their desired fields.
How Online Education Compares to Learning on Campus
Online learning is gaining ground in the eyes of both students and employers as a valuable mode of education compared to the traditional on-campus experience.
The majority of current online learners and graduates (76%) agree that online education is better than or equal to on-campus learning.
Most of these learners (65%) also say that their current or future employers perceive online education as better than or equal to on-campus learning.
Learners’ positive perception of online education even extends to how they view specific elements of learning:
- 72% rate their quality of instruction as satisfactory or very satisfactory.
- 72% rate their academic or personal enrichment as satisfactory or very satisfactory.
- 66% rate their sense of belonging to the academic community as satisfactory or very satisfactory.
Positive perceptions of online learning are so high that nearly all surveyed respondents (99%) say they would recommend online education to others.
The Modern Learner
There’s no one-size-fits-all student. All students enroll for different reasons, but most are focused on long-term growth. Regardless, online programs are giving students flexibility to meet their goals on their own terms.
- 39% of prospective, current, and graduated online students tell BestColleges they consider themselves lifelong learners.
- 36% enrolled in an online program are hoping to change careers.
- 29% are looking to advance in their current field.
- 26% are working toward finishing a previously started degree.
Learners See Value in Online Advanced Degrees
Across the board, current and prospective online learners and graduates perceive online education as valuable. However, they are far likelier to see the value in bachelor’s and advanced degrees than in standalone courses and bootcamps.
In fact, survey respondents are most likely to say online doctoral degrees are somewhat or very valuable in their desired field/industry (85%).
It’s no surprise that learners are least likely to see bootcamps as a valuable online credential. Since 2017, industry experts and employers have complained that bootcamp graduates are often unprepared for the workforce or lacking in the latest, critical coding skills.
As BestColleges’ latest report shows, a program’s ability to prepare its graduates for the workforce is a key element to what makes it valuable.
Methodology
Two online surveys were conducted between February and April of 2025. The first survey was fielded by Pure Spectrum in partnership with GLG Research and collected data from 1,000 students, including currently enrolled learners, graduates, and prospective students.
BestColleges’ outreach team fielded the second survey via Qualtrics and collected feedback from school administrators. A screening question was used to include only administrators working at institutions that offer online courses and programs. A total of 74 administrators representing two- and four-year schools responded.